The best time to visit Palermo
Spring and early autumn for sightseeing, summer for the sea — but with heat and a packed Mondello.
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- The Steri
- daily 9–19 (Mar–Oct), 9–17 (Nov–Feb)
- Palatine Chapel
- Mon–Sat 8.15–17.40 (last entry 17.00)
Palermo is best seen in spring and early autumn: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. So a month is chosen by the reason for coming: churches and markets ask for a cooler day, and the sea for a warmer one. The table below gives the climate by month.
If you only pick one month — October. Temperature is the mean over the whole day (not the daily high), and a rainy day has at least 1 mm of rain; averages for 2021–2024.
Heat and a packed Mondello
In July and August you should expect heat, and with it a packed Mondello. Sightseeing in churches and palaces moves to the morning in those months, and the beach to the days in between. How hot it gets is shown by the climate table above.
The months for sightseeing
In April, May, June, September and October the hours stay long: the Steri is open daily 9–19 (Mar–Oct), 9–17 (Nov–Feb), the Teatro Massimo daily 9.30–19 (last tour 18.20). The three days of the itinerary fit without a rush.
Shorter hours
Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri keeps shorter hours in the winter months, daily 9–19 (Mar–Oct), 9–17 (Nov–Feb). The Capuchin Catacombs keep the same hours all year: daily 9–17.30 (last entry 17.10). The Palatine Chapel is open Mon–Sat 8.15–17.40 (last entry 17.00); Sun & holidays 8.15–13.00 (last entry 12.15), and on Sundays it stops at midday, so in winter too you go early.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which month is best for Palermo?
The best months are: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Is Palermo too hot in summer?
In July and August expect heat and a packed Mondello, so sightseeing moves to the morning.
Is Palermo open in winter?
It is. The Steri keeps shorter hours in winter: daily 9–19 (Mar–Oct), 9–17 (Nov–Feb), and the catacombs are open all year: daily 9–17.30 (last entry 17.10).
Ready for Palermo?
Where to next
Getting around Palermo
→The train from the airport to Palermo Centrale, then on foot through the centre and by AMAT bus to Monreale…
Catania · 165 km
→Black Baroque built from lava stone, a fish market behind the cathedral and a volcano at the end of the main street.
How well does Palermo suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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